Baggage-scale.



W. B. MAODONALD.

BAGGAGE SCALE. I APPLIOATION IILED SEPT. 2, 1908.

953,1 500 Patented M21229, 19.1.0.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

wdnmoaa W. B. MIAODONALDH BAGGAGE SCALE.-

A PPLIOATION FILED SEPT.2, 1908.

953,159.; 7 Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gwuautoz UNITED STATES FATENT @FFIGE.

WILLIAM BURT MACDONALD, OF CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN.

BAGGAGrE-SGALE.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM BURT Mne- DONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Baggage-Scale, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weighing scales and more particularly to a scale especially designed for weighing trunks, parcels and other baggage.

The object of the invention is to provide a scale including a truck having a weight re ceiving platform and provided with an overhanging arm adapted to support a trunk or other article during the weighing operation, said arm being operatively connected with a coiled spring having a pointer secured thereto and movable over a graduated scale for indicating the weight of said article.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a baggage scale constructed in accordance with my invention showing the device in operation. Fig. 2 is a similarv view showing the weight receiving platform folded upwardly in engagement with the inclined brace to permit ready transportation of the scale. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 1- is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a front view of Fig. a. Fig. 6 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the platform shown in Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the winding drum. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a side elevation illustrating another modification. Fig. 10 is a similar view illustrating a still further modification.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved scale forming the subject Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 2, 1908.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

Serial No. 451,357.

matter of the present invention comprises a truck having traction wheels 5 mounted for rotation on an axle 6 and to which is secured a platform 7. Bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the platform 7 above the axle 6 is a standard 8 to the upper end of which is secured one end of an inclined brace 9, the opposite end of the brace-being fastened to the platform '7, as shown.

Pivotally mounted at 10 on the platform 7 is a movable standard 11 having a laterally extending weight supporting member, preferably in the form of an over-hanging arm 12 terminating in a hook 13 adapted to engage the end loop or handle of a trunk when weighing the latter.

Arranged beneath the inclined brace 9 is a coiled spring it, one end of which is anchored to the plat-form 7, while the opposite end thereof is extended to form a rod 16 terminating in an eye 17.

Secured to the inner face of the movable standard 11 are a plurality of loops or eyes 18 disposed in vertical alinement and to one of which is secured the adjacent end of a cord, cable or other flexible medium 19, the opposite end of which extends through one of a series of transverse openings 20 formed in the stationary standard 8 for attachment to the eye 17 of the coiled spring.

The mouths of the openings 20 are inclined or beveled at 21 for the reception of the loops 18 when the standard 11 is moved to inoperative position in engagement with the standard 8, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Secured in any suitable manner to the rod 16 is an index finger or pointer 22, the free end of which travels over the surface of a scale 23 graduated to pounds and fractions thereof so as to indicate the weight of an object suspended from the hook of the overhanging arm.

Pivotally mounted at 24 to the rear end of the platform 7 is an auxiliary platform 25 adapted to receive a weight 26 or upon which a person may stand during the weighing operation, thereby to steady the scale and prevent tilting of the truck 7.

When the device is not in use the auxiliary platform 25 may be swung upwardly in engagement with the inclined brace 9 so that the truck may be conveniently transported from place to place.

Secured to the upper longitudinal edge of the arm 12 is a shelf #7 adapted to receive packages or parcels when weighing the same, said arm being reinforced and strengthened by the provision of a diagonally disposed brace 28 extending between the arm 12 and the adjacent movable standard 11, as shown.

In operation the auxiliary platform is swung downwardly to the position shown in Fl 1 of the drawing and a weight placed thereon, or if desired, the operator may stand on said auxiliary platform. The hook 18 is then passed through the handle of loop of a trunk so as to suspend said trunk from the free end of the arm 12. The weight of the trunk on the arm 12 will move the pivoted standard 11 laterally and thereby cause the cord or cable 19 to exert a longitudinal pull on the coiled spring 14c and through the medium of the pointer 22 indicate the weight of the trunk on the graduated scale 23. When the trunk is removed from the arm 12 the tension of the spring 1-1 will cause said arm to assume the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, that is to say with the inner face of the movable standard in engagement with the stationary standard 8.

In Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which a single rigid standard 8 is em ployed, the latter being formed with a longitudinally disposed slot 29 for the reception of a movable slide 30 carried by the overhanging arm 31, there being a compression spring 32 interposed between the lower end of the slide 30 and the adjacent end of the slot 29. The overhanging arm 31 is pro vided with a hook similar in construction to the hook shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, while the platform 7 is provided with a pivoted extension 2F adapted .to receive a weight or upon which the operator may stand during the weighing operation, in the manner before described. In using this form of the scale the box or package is placed on the supporting shelf or platform 27, which causes the slide 30 to bear against and compress the spring 32, there being suitable pointers secured to the slide 30 for indicating the weight of the box or other article on the graduated scale.

In Figs. 6, T and 8, another modified construction has been illustrated. In this form of device the platform 31' and the standard are mounted upon wheels 36 preferably in the form of casters, a brace 37 being connected to the standard and platform so as to hold them properly fixed relative to each other. The standard constitutes a guide for a slide 38 from which a shelf 39 extends. Slide 38 is connected by means of a spring 4-0 with one end of a chain or other llexible element 11 mounted 011 a Wheel 12, such, for example, as a sprocket, the other end of this flexible connection being attached to a drum 13 mounted in suitable bearings on the free end portion of the platform ill. The shall 44: ol this drum has a ratchet-wheel l3 cured thereto and designed to be actuated by a pawl it; carried by an undulating lever 4-7. An arm 48 having a scale thereon is carried by and extends upwardly from the slide 38 and a pointer or index l9 is secured to the upper end of the spring l0 and is designed to cooperate with the scale on arm 18 for the purpose of indicating the weight carried. by the shelf 39.

By n'ieans of the constructi m shown in Figs. 6, T and 8, the trunks or other a rticlcs to be weighed can be transferred to and from the scales without the necessity of raising or lowering the trunk. etc. in order to place it upon the scale. This is done by raising or lowering the shelf 39 so as to bring it to the same level as the surface on which the article to be weighed is resting. This adjustment is effected by means ol the lever 47 and pawl -16 which when oscillated. operates to wind or unwind the connection 4t]. on to or off of the drum 4-3. It will be seen therefore that the slide 238, spring ll), scale-arm l8 and index or pointer ll) will thus be elevated to any point desired and when the trunk or other article to be weighed is placed upon the shelf 39 said shelf and the scale-arm 48 will move downward and. the relative positions of the s alearm and the index or pointer +1 5) will change. The pointer and scale will thus cooperate to accurately indicate the weight of the article contained upon the pltltifOIll'l or shell.

In Fig. 9 a still further modified construction has been disclosed, this form being a modification of the structure disclosed in Figs. 1 and In this structure the pivoted standard 50 is connected to a spring 51 by in ans of a chain or other llexiblc connection extending through an aperture not shown within the relatively tixed. standard 53. Spring 51 is attached at its other end to the platform 54: and carries an index or pointer 55 designed to cooperate with a scale-arm it}. This scale-arm is pivotally connected to platform 54: and has a loop 5'? through which the connection 52 loosely extends. ln most other respects the construction shown in Fig. 9 .is similar to that disclosed in Fig.

In Fig. 10 a further modification has been disclosed, the same being more especially a variation of the structure illustrated in lfig. -l. in this structure the platform 58 has a lixed standard 9 thereon to which an arm (50 is pivotally connected, said. arm being in other respects similar to the arm 51. Said arm rests loosely upon a slide (31 mounted within standard 62 and yieldingly supported by a spring 63. An index or pointer (3-1 is carried by slide (31 and cooperates with a scale 65 on standard (32 for the purpose of indicating the weight of an article placed on arm 60.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A scale including a wheeled truck provided with a weight receiving platform, a standard carried by the truck and provided with an outstanding arm for supporting the article to be weighed, a spring, a flexible element having one end thereof secured to the spring and its opposite end adjustably connected with the standard, and an indicating device movable with the spring and the outstanding arm.

2. A scale including a truck, relatively stationary and movable standards mounted on the truck, counterpoising means operatively connected with the movable standard, an overhanging arm secured to one of the standards, an indicating device, and a flexible connection between the movable standard and the indicating device.

3. A scale comprising a wheeled truck, a rigid platform on said truck, a standard 011 the platform, a brace between the standard and the platform, an auxiliary counterweight receiving platform hinged to the rigid platform and adapted to be folded over upon the brace, an over-hanging arm to receive the article to be weighed, means between said arm and the platform to support the arm, load-resisting means, an indicator, and connections whereby the indicator will follow the movements of the outstanding arm.

4. A scale comprising a wheeled truck, a platform on the truck, a standard at one end of the platform, an overhanging arm adapted to receive the article to be weighed and projecting beyond the standard in a direction opposite from the platform, means between the arm and the platform to support the arm, load-resisting means, an indicator, and connections whereby the indicator will follow the movements of said overhanging arm.

5. A scale including a wheeled truck, relatively stationary and movable standards secured to the truck, an over-hanging arm secured to the movable standard and pro vided with a terminal suspension hook, a coiled spring, a flexible connection between the movable standard and coiled spring, and an indicating device carried by the spring.

6. A scale including a wheeled truck having a rigid platform, an auxiliary weight receiving platform pivotally connected with the rigid platform, relatively stationary and movable standards extending vertically from the rigid platform, a brace connecting the upper end of the stationary standard with the rigid platform and provided with a graduated scale, an arm secured to the movable standard, a coiled spring secured to the rigid platform, a flexible connection between the movable standard and the adjacent end of the spring, and a pointer carried by the spring and movable over the graduations on the brace.

7. A scale including a wheeled truck having a weight receiving platform, a stationary standard mounted on the truck and having a series of transverse openings formed therein, a movable standard having a series of eyes and provided with an over-hanging arm terminating in a suspension hook, a brace extending between the platform and the upper end of the stationary standard, a coiled spring connected with the body of the truck, a flexible medium having one end thereof connected to one of the eyes of the movable standard and its opposite end ex tending through the adjacent opening in the stationary standard for connection with the adjacent end of the coiled spring, and a pointer carried by the spring and movable over a series of graduations on the inclined brace.

8. A scale including a wheeled truck having a rigid platform, relatively stationary and movable standards secured to one end of the platform, there being a series of transverse openings formed in the stationary standard and having their mouths inclined or beveled at one longitudinal edge of said standard, an over-hanging arm secured to the upper end of the movable standard and terminating in a suspension hook, a series of vertically disposed eyes secured to the inner face of the movable standard and arranged to enter the mouths of the slots at the openings when the scale is in inoperative position, a brace connecting the stationary standard and platform, a spring connected with said platform, a cable secured to one of the eyes and extending through the adjacent transverse opening in the stationary standard for attachment to the adjacent end of the spring, a pointer carried by the spring and movable over a series of graduations on the brace, and a weight receiving platform pivotally connected with the rigid platform and foldable laterally against the inclined brace.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BURT MAODONALD.

Witnesses:

ELno MURRAY, FRANK E. BEARD. 

